Peach Tree Growth

by Joanne Marie

Peach trees produce fruit on 1-year-old branches.

Growing your own peaches can provide a yearly supply of tree-ripened, sweet fruit picked at the right time for best flavor. Although not difficult to grow, peach trees (Prunus sp.) have a few basic cultural and pruning requirements you'll need to meet to ensure a good crop of fruit. Although many different varieties of peach trees are available, most are reliably hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture planting zones 5 and above.

Basics

Although you'll find hundreds of peach tree cultivars, two basic types exist: those that produce freestone fruit in which the stone releases readily from the fruit's flesh and clingstone types with flesh tightly attached to the stone. Both types are adaptable to different types of soil, although they require good drainage and do poorly in overly moist conditions. Peach trees need abundant light and do best in a location that receives sun the entire day. To plant a peach tree, prepare a hole twice the diameter of the tree's root ball, keeping any graft union several inches above the soil surface. Water the tree fully at planting and regularly thereafter, and fertilize it with a balanced fertilizer about 10 days after planting and several times during the first growing season.

Growth Pattern

The growth pattern of a peach tree is important in determining its overall health and fruitfulness. The Ohio State University Extension recommends training and pruning a young peach tree into an "open center" shape, which helps the tree develop a balanced frame of main branches. Immediately after planting, a young tree should be pruned back to a height of about 2 1/2 feet and all side branches removed, leaving a single central stem. During the next two years, allow only strong side branches, called scaffolds, to grow, and cut off any shoots that form on the central stem. New growth on the inward-facing side of scaffolds should also be removed since they can shade the tree's center. After three years, the shape of the tree should resemble an open vase.

Fruiting

Peaches bloom in the spring, and each blossom has the potential to produce fruit. When petals drop from the blossoms, small fruits begin to appear on 1-year-old shoots; these fruits continue to grow over the next few months. Generally, a peach tree produces more fruit than it can support, especially if the tree is young. Thinning fruit is a good practice that prevents weakening of the tree and ensures that some fruits reach full size. When young peaches are about the size of a quarter, usually three to four weeks after blooming, remove some fruits by hand so that the remaining young peaches are spaced about 8 inches apart on the tree's branches.

Yearly Growth

When fertilized properly, a healthy peach tree produces about 18 inches of new growth each year. A well-established tree needs 1 to 2 pounds of a balanced, 10-10-10 fertilizer, applied early in the spring and again two months later, to support continued fruit production. Broadcast the fertilizer evenly in an area about 1 foot away from the tree trunk. Remove grass and weeds from this area so that the tree receives the full benefit of the fertilizer, and mulch the tree well. Irrigate the tree during the growing season, watering especially well three weeks before harvest to help fruit reach full maturity.

About the Author

Joanne Marie began writing professionally in 1981. Her work has appeared in health, medical and scientific publications such as "Endocrinology" and "Journal of Cell Biology." She has also published in hobbyist offerings such as "The Hobstar" and "The Bagpiper." Marie is a certified master gardener and has a Ph.D. in anatomy from Temple University School of Medicine.

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